No matter what religion an individual belongs to, he or she cannot escape the deep sorrow when a person dear to them dies. The faith system in which a person belongs to can perform a ritual of letting go in order to help those who are left behind to come to terms with a loved one’s demise.

Buddhism is one of the most widespread religions practised across the globe. The basic principles of the religion are based on the teachings of Lord Buddha. The followers of Buddhism are expected to show boundless love for all and try to realize the Ultimate Truth.

These main tenets of Buddhism are evident in the rituals followed during a Buddhist funeral. After the death of a person in a Buddhist family, some rituals have to be practised in order to make sure that the deceased’s soul is elevated to a higher stage in afterlife. The positive energies of the deceased are invoked to pray and wish the best for the deceased’s life cycle beyond this birth.

A traditional bath to the body marks the beginning of the Buddhist funeral rituals. The second stage involves invitation of monks, who read out religious scriptures and thereby help the soul in finding eternity. The teachings of Lord Buddha, which speak of the value of practising virtue and compassion in life, are recited aloud. The body is meanwhile prepared for the final rites. Friends and family usually keep some coins in the casket of the deceased person. This is done to pay for the deceased’s journey across the River of Three Hells.

Then the friends and relatives come and pay their last respects to the deceased as the casket is placed at the altar. While friends and relatives give condolences, attendees are expected to pray for the dead person. The proceeding is accompanied with chanting of relevant sutras by the priests. Once the chanting is complete, people bow before the altar to pay their final regards. After the ceremony, the family members of the departed give out gifts to the attendees for sharing their sorrow.

After these rituals are carried out, the body may then be either buried or cremated according to the beliefs of the family. The rites and rituals are a means of bringing peace and acceptance to the family members of the departed as they know their prayers are directed towards elevating the status of the deceased in his life after death.

Death is a sensitive time. After all, funerals present the family with a need to transition into moving on with life. Get the best caskets for your loved one’s burial. This article, What Is The Significance Of Buddhist Funeral Rites? is released under a creative commons attribution licence.

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